Shock absorbing mechanism



Aug. 30, 1932. s. B. HAsELTlNE SHOCK ABSORBING AMECHANISM Filed Sept.l5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ira/enfui 554:56. lfaselfze A118- 30, 1932- s.B. HASELTINE 1,374,283

SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed Sept. l5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @www4A., fry

Patented Aug. 30, 1932 s'rACY B. HAsEL'riNE, or CHICAGO,` ILLiNois,

ssrGiiOR-TO i1. Minna, lor

Cirioacio, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE lsnoei: assommeiiECHANIsM l i y y Application mea september 15,:1'928. semi-in.306,200.

This invention relates to improvementsin shock absorbing mechanisms.

One object of` the invention is to provide a shock absorbing mechanismespecially adapted for railway draft riggings, of rugged design and highcapacity, including main followers relatively movable toward` and awayfrom eachother and a main springre-V sistance andfriction meansinterposed between the followers and actuated upon relative approach ofthe same, the friction means including a laminated late spring compressible between side mem ers, wedged inwardly Vupon relative movement ofthe followers by wedge means movable with one of the followers, andadditional movable wedge means i yieldingly4 resisted by said mainspring, wherein friction is created between the members Vofthe laminatedplate spring due to slippage ofthe plates thereof on each other; on thebearing faces of the side members durinng flexing of 'the'same; and onthe wedgefaces. l

Another object Of the invention `is to pro 3 vide a shock absorbingmechanism of the character indicated, yincluding relatively movablefollower casings .and a main spring resistance comprising -a pluralityof lamiiiated plate spring units separated by spacm ing members, whereincertain of the spacing members are held out of contact with the sidewalls of the casings to prevent damaging the latter, said spacingmembers and one of the follower casings being provided with cooperdating guide means limiting movement of the spacing members to adirection lengthwise of the casings. Y f i Yet another object of theinvention is to provide a shock absorbing mechanism, in-

l cliiding relativelymovable follower casings and shock absorbing meansincluding laminated plate spring resistance means interposed betweenthe` follower casings and enclosed thereby, wherein thecasings are pro-4 vided with interengaging extended portions to.preventlateraldisplacement Of the casi t ings and in additionsupport the lmembers ofthe plate springs when the'follolwer casings are moved apart.

A still furtherrobject ofthe invention iis y60 to provide alaminatedplate springrunit `for shock absorbingmechanisms, including aspring container,.composed of a pluralityof plate springmembersiarranged in pairs, the plates at each of the opposite end portions of`65 said pairs. having respectivelya raw endl edge and a rounded bentended e, the "rounded bent end :edge overhanging `t eraw endedge toshield the spring container, and further .presenting a smooth end:bearing face for said V 60 (pairs o'fplatemernbers to preventdamage tothe containerwalls upon contact therewith'.

A- further object of the invention is to provide aV laminated `platespring unit for shock absorbingmechanisms, composed of a'plu- `65 ralityof plate members arrangedl in pairs, one plate of each pair having rawend` edges at opposite ends and thefotherv member lof each pairbeing'provided with abent end portion overhanging said raw' end edge of w70the first named member'to house the same and provide shielding means for`said raw end edge.

A more specific Vobjectof the,invention'` is to provide a shockabsorbing mechanism'in- 75 Vcliiding relatively movable followercasings; a spring follower", a `main spring resistance Icomposed ofa'plurality of `laminated-plate spring umts interposed betweenithespring follower and one of Vsaid ,follower casings;'-80 laterallyinwardly acting pressure'tran'smitting members disposed@ at Oppositesides of the mechanism interposed between the-spring follower `and theother Casing; wedge means movable with said'lastfnamed casing vand S5spring follower, respectively, for wedging said 'side members'laterally/inwardly; and laminated plate spring means interposedbctweensaid side members`,'comprising two units, each composed of'afplurality of longi- 1 tudinally arranged spring plates, the units beingseparated by spacing means presenting concave bearing surfaces for saidplate springs and the side members having convex surfaces bearing on thesame.

corresponding respectively tothe lines 2--2 and 3 3 of Figure 1.*Figures 4, 5 and 6 are detailed perspective views respectively of thespring follower, a side member and a spacing member employed inconnection with my-im proved mechanism. Figure 7 is an enlarged,

broken, horizontal sectional view .of the front follower, casing,showing the laminated plate spring Vmembers in plan. And Figure 8 is ahorizontal sectional view of the front fol- 'lower,villustrating adifferent embodiment of the invention.

In said drawings,.referring first to the embodiment `of the inventionillustrated in F ig-Y .ures lto 7,inclusive, 10-10 indicatechannelshaped center 'or draft sills of a railway car underframe, t'othe inner sides of which are zsecured lfront-stop `lugs 11-11 and rearstop ,lugs 1.2-12. The inner endportion of th-e coupler shank isdesignated by 13, to which is operatively connected a hooded yoke 14 ofwell known form. VMy' improved shockabsorbing'mechanism is supported bythe'yole, and the yoke in turn is-supported by a saddle A.plate A15detac'hably secured'to the-'draft sills.

My improved shockvabsorbing mechanism 'propercomprisea broadly, frontand-rear followerrcasings A andfrB; a spring follower C; two sidemembers D-D; two wedge blocks fE-E; a main spring resistance composed ofaplurality of laminated plate spring unitsF-fF; a plurality ofV spacingmembers G and H; two longitudinally arranged laminated spring units J-J,cooperating with sidey members; and apair of retainer bolts 'The frontfollower casing is the form cfa-hollow box-like member, havinglongitudinally disposed spaced side walls 16-16,

horizontal `spaced top and bottom walls 1'7-*17, and a transverse frontend Wall 18, which cooperates directly-with the front stop lugs V11inthe manner of the usual front follower. As shown, the top and sidewalls are 'cut Iaway at'the inner end of the casing to lpresentrearwardly extending arms 1919,

'g yeach arm vbeing of angular transverse section wall andra section ofthe adjacent side wall f and comprising aportion of the horizontalextending atright angles thereto, as most clearly/shown in Figure 2.

corners of the casinO' walls 23-23- The walls are cut away at theforward end to provide forwardly projecting arms 2&1-24 at diagonallyopposite g, each composed of a portion of the vertical side wall and theadj acent horizontal wall. The arms 24 overlap thearms 19 of the casingA, the casings being thus guided for longitudinal relative movement. Atransverse end wall 25 closes the rear end portion of the follower B,the wall 25 cooperating with the stop lugs 12 in the manner of the usualrear follower. On the inner side, the wall 25 is recessed, as indicatedat 26-26, for a purpose hereinafter pointed out. At the rear end of thecasing B, the side walls are thicker than the main portion, the casing Bis provided with a transverse vertically disposed web 29 connecting thetop and bottom walls thereof and having its opposite side edges spacedfrom the side walls, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1.

' Short spacing wall sections 30-30 are provided centrally of the casingB, one of the wall sections extending rearwardly from the web 29 and theother section extending forwardly from the end wall As shown, the innerends of the walls 30 are spaced apart an appreciable distance and theside faces of said walls are curved to provide concave bearing faces.

The side members D are disposed at opposite sides of the casing B andcooperate with the wedge faces 27 of said casing. Each member l) isprovided with a curved bearing face 31 on the inner side thereof, thebearing face being preferably convex. At the forward end, each sidemember D is provided witha wedge face 32 adapted to cooperate with oneof the wedge blocks E. At the rear end, each block is provided with awedge face 33 cooperating with the wedge face 27 of the casing B. Asmost clearly illustrated in Figure 5, the rear end portion of each sidemember is centrally cut away, as indicated at llO i fao fill' l platesof each pair 34, to accommodate" the projecting tongue Q8 with suitable"clearancetherebetween. i

The wedge blocks are two in number 'and are disposed atopposite sides`of the casing B and cooperate with the side members D. Each wedgeblock` .E isfprovided with a wedge face attheinner end thereof,cooperating with the wedge face 32 of the corresponding side member. Atthe front end, each wedge block E present-s a fiat transverse face`36which engages directly withthe spring follower C. VThe spring follower Cisinthe4 form of `a substantially rectangular plate having horizontallydisposed, forwardly extending top andbottom arms 'B7-*37, adapted toWork in the guide channels 21-21 of the top and bottom walls ofthecasingA-and also overhanging several ofthe plate spring members andnearest spacer H to hold the same assembled within the casings,ashereinafter pointed out. The follower C is provided with a transverselydisposed, convex bearing surface 87 on the front side thereof, directlyengaging vthe adjacent spring unit F. At the rear side,tl 1e followerisprovided with a centrallydisposed vertical enlargement 38 which isadapted to engage the web 291aid thus prevent the springs J from goingso 1 i i The main spring resistance comprises a plurality of laminated`spring units F#- which are separated by spacing members G and H. Asshown in the present instance, three of the units comprise six springplates, while the remaining two units. are composed of eight springplates. The spring plates of each unit 'arearranged inpairs, each paircomprising a substantially rectangularplate having straight raw endedgesat theopposite sides thereof and a second rectangular spring platehaving the opposite end sections thereof bentover, as indicated at 39,to overhang the adjacent raw edges of theA other plate.r lThe plate ofthe pair having-the raw end edges is f thus nested within the otherplate-and` embraced at opposite end edges by the'bent end edges of thelatter.` In'this connection, itis pointed out that the bent overhangingend` edges 39 prevent lateral displacement of the with respect to eachother, and also prevent engagement of the 'raw end edges with the sidewalls of the casing A. In addition, the bent `end sections 39 presentsmooth bearing faces which will not cause injury to the side walls ofthecasing A upon coming in contact therewith. The spring plates, in actualpractice, will be initially bent somewhat in the opposite direction inwhich intended to be fiexed during compression and placed in the gearunder initial compression.

The five units of the laminated plate spring resistance are held apartby the spacing members G and H', as' hereinbefore stated. kThe spacingmembers G are each provided with convexbearing surfaces on Vthe'opposite sides the opposite edges thereof, overhanging 1 shown, thespring units and the web 29.

ing

thereofand the spacing `members'H, which @are alternatedwithfthespacin'g members G, ware provided with concave-bearing surfaces`on their opposite sides,J Each of theV spac- 1 ing membersiG and H isprovided'with top vandbottom central lugs LlO-40, which engage fwithinthe channels 21--21 of the top Vfand bottom walls of the casing A andare guided for longitudinal movement thereby. As will-be evident, thespacingmembers G l and H andthe spring follower C rare'thus heldagainst?A lateral displacement with i respect to the casings A and B bythe guide means thereof whichcooperates with the `guide channels21. Y

The two laminated 1 ,spring Yunits-J--J, which cooperate with the sidemembers D, are of Va design similar to the laminated plate spring.'-units F, hereinbefore described.

Each 4of the units J ,as shown in the present'` instance, .is composedof fourteen plateV springs, the plate springs of 'eachunit beingarranged in pairs, one member of whichxis provlded wlth'bent overV endedge sections fat raw endedges of the next adjacent plate. As

J areinterposed between the side members and the walls 30 and the areunder-a predetermined initial .compression to hold the same slightlyflexed, as shown in Figure 1. The front end portions of the platesprings of eachunit J are disposed withinthe recess 26 at thecorrespondingside of the casing'B. Longitudinal displacement of themembers of each unit is prevented by' engagement of the end wall 25ofthe casing B The mechanism is held assembled and of overall-,uniformlength by a pair of retainer bolts disposed A and B.` The retainer boltshave the heads thereof disposed in vcut-away sections 41-41 of the sidewalls of the casing B and have the nuts thereof disposed withinrecesses42-42 provided atopposite sides of the `casing A.

The operation of my improved shock absorbing mechanism, during a draftor buifing action, is as follows: The follower casings A and B will bemoved relatively toward each other, thereby flexing the laminatedspring'- units F between the bearingfaces on the follower` casing A,thespacing members G and H, and the spring follower C. The actuatingforce will .be transmitted through the spring follower to the wedge l Yaction will be set up between the latter andthe side members D, the sidemembers D being wedged' inwardly bythe wedge faces on the wedge blocks Eand the casing B. As

thesidemembers D are forced laterally in` wardly toward each other, thelaminated spring plate members J will be fiexed between {the-convexbearing surfaces of the members `D and the-concave fbearing surfaces ofthe wallsjections 30.

at opposite sides of the casings- )locks E and a wedge.

"arated,

f. The compression of the vmechanism will continue either Auntil theactuating force is reduced or the movement of the parts 1s limited bythe ends of the housings engaging each tendency of the members of thelaminated yplate spring units to assume the normal position will returnall of the parts to the full release position shown in Figure 1, outwardmovement of the casings A and B with respect to each other being limitedby the retainer lbolts K.` l

Referring next to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8, theconstruction of all the parts, with the exception of the spring plates,is substantially the same as that hereinbefore described. The springplates are shown in this instance as arranged within the casing A. Thespring plates cooperate with the next adjacent spacing member G and theconcave bearing surface 20 on the inner side of the wall of the casingA. The plate spring un1t which is'indicated by M, as shown, is composedof six spring plate members. The spring plate members are arranged inpairs, each pair comprisingr two similar plates, having a raw end edge50 at one end thereof and a bent over end edge 51 at the opposite end.As shown, the plates of each pair are reversely arranged end for end, sothat the bent over end edge of one plate overhangs t-he raw end edge ofthe other plate of said pair. As will be evident, the bent over endvedges form shielding means for the raw end edges of the plates in asimilar manner, as pointed out in connection with the laminated" platespring units F and J, hereinbefore described.

The operation of the device'shown in Figure 8V is substantially the sameas that shown in the other form of the invention hereinbefore described,the casing A cooperating with (a. casing similar to the casing B herein-Vbefore described, and containing shock absorbin g means comprisinglongitudinally disposed laminated plate spring members and cooperatingwedge means.

In this connection, it is pointed out that by thearrangement ofinterengaging arms on the casings A and B, the casings are not onlyguided for longitudinal movement, but the arms which overlap the gapbetween the inner ends of the casings, when the same are sepalso serveas effective supporting means for the laminated plate spring units,thereby preventing displacement of the same vertically and transverselywith respect to the casings. The spring follower, by means of the arms37 which embrace the adjacent plates of the laminated springy unitsF,also

5 aid to hold the plates properly assembled, in-

asmuch as the arms extend over the gap between the casings when the sameare separated.

The arrangement of laminated plate spring units, wherein the raw endedges of the plates Vare properly shielded, as is the case in connectionwith my improvements, greatly adds to the life of the mechanism andespecially the casings thereof, inasmuch as damage to the side walls issubstantially eliminated. The

raw end edges of the plates are properly shielded bythe bent over endportions of the adjacent plates, and the rounded end faces of the bentover portions are so designed that when the plates of each unit areiiexed, there will be no digging in of the ends of the plates, becausethe end sections will swing in arcs of circles having a center of radiuscoinciding with the longitudinal axis of the mechanism. As will beevident, the end portions of the plates will thus draw away fromV theside walls of the casings immediately upon flexing of the plates.

While I have herein shown and described what I consider the preferredmanner of carrying out Ymy invention, the same is merely illustrativeand I contemplate all changes and modifications which come within thescope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with relativelymovable follower members; of a laminated plate spring under initialcompression, the members of said plate spring being disposed lengthwiseof the mechanism; pressure transmitting members disposed at oppositesides of said laminated plate spring slidable lengthwise thereon; a mainspring resistance yieldingly opposing longitudinal movement of saidmembers; and means for wedging the said members inwardly to compress thelaminated plate spring.

2. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with relativelymovable follower members; of a laminated plate spring, the members ofsaid plate spring being disposed lengthwise of the mechanism; pressuretransmitting members disposed at opposite' sides of said laminated platespring; means movable with one of said followers and having wedgingengagement with said members at one set of ends thereof, said platespring being movable with said last named follower and slidable on saidpressure transmitting members; means having wedging engagement with theopposite ends of said members; and a main spring resistance interposedbetween said last named means and the other main follower.

3. In a. shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with relativelymovable follower casings; of a laminated plate spring within one of saidcasings, the members of said plate spring being disposed lengthwise ofthe mechanism; means for flexing said spring, including a pair of sidemembers on opposite sides of said plate spring and movable laterallytoward each other and slidable lengthwise on said plate springs; wedgemeans cooperating with the opposite ends of said side members forforcing the same laterally inwardly, the wedge means at one end of saidmembers being movable with one of said follower casings; and a mainspring resistance interposed between the wedge means at the other end ofsaid members and the other follower casing.

4:. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with relativelymovable follower casings; of a laminated plate spring within one of saidcasings, the members of said plate spring being disposed lengthwise ofthe mechanism, said casing having a transverse end wall and an abutmentwall inwardly thereof, between which said plate spring is confined;means for flexing said spring, including a pair of side members onopposite sides of said plate spring, each of said members having wedgingengagement at one end with said last named casing, said plate springbeing movable with said last named casing and slidable relatively tosaid side members; wedge means engaging the other end of each member;and a main spring resistance opposing movement of said Wedge means.

5. In a. shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with relativelymovable follower casings; of side members within one of said casings;spring means interposed between said side members; a main'springresistance, including a plurality of laminated plate spring units housedWithin said follower casings; spacing members separating said units; aspring follower; and guide means of cooperating guide and grooveformation on one of said follower casings, spring follower and spacingmembers, to limit movement of the spring follower and spacing members toa direction lengthwise of the mechanism. y

6. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with relativelymovable follower casings; of a main spring resistance; side membersentirely within one of said casings; spring resistance means interposedbetween said side members; a spring follower within said last namedcasing and means for forcing said side members laterally inwardly towardeach other, including wedge means movable with said spring follower.

7 In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with relativelymovable follower casings, one of `said casings having wedge meansthereon; of a spring follower; a main spring resistance interposedbetween said spring follower and the other casing; wedge blocks engagedby said spring follower and having frictional engagement with the adja-Vcent follower casing; wedge shoes disposed cooperable with the springunits to fiex the` latter. y

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 12th day of September, 1928.

STACY B. HASELTINE.

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